Queens Restaurants Receive Grade B Scores March 12, 2026

New York, NY — Three restaurants across Queens received Grade B health inspection scores on March 12, 2026, documenting food safety violations that required correction but did not pose immediate public health hazards. The establishments—representing Mexican, Korean, and Greek cuisines—averaged 19.7 points, placing them within the 14-27 point Grade B range under NYC's restaurant grading system.

The Inspections

Instinto Bar, a Mexican establishment at 82-11 Northern Boulevard, received a score of 20 points. Inspectors documented critical violations related to food handling protocols, specifically noting that raw, cooked, or prepared food was adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) standards. This violation appeared twice in the inspection report, indicating multiple instances where food safety protocols were not properly followed.

Yangjichon, a Korean restaurant located at 35-14 Farrington Street, also scored 20 points. The primary violation centered on food contact surface maintenance, with inspectors noting that the design, construction, materials used, or maintenance of food contact surfaces was improper. The report specified that surfaces were not easily cleanable or sanitizable, creating potential contamination risks.

North Shore Towers Restaurant And Catering, a Greek establishment at 272-48 Grand Central Parkway, received 19 points and was listed with a pending grade status. Similar to Yangjichon, this facility was cited for improper food contact surfaces that were not easily cleanable or sanitizable, a violation that can compromise the effectiveness of sanitation procedures.

Common Patterns

The March 12 inspections revealed two distinct violation categories affecting Queens restaurants. Two of the three establishments—the Korean and Greek venues—shared identical violations regarding food contact surface maintenance. This pattern suggests a common challenge in maintaining equipment and surfaces that meet NYC Health Department standards for cleanability and sanitation.

The Mexican establishment faced a different but equally serious issue: HACCP compliance failures. The duplicate citation for food adulteration or cross-contamination indicates systemic problems with food handling protocols rather than a single isolated incident.

Geographically, all three restaurants operate in Queens, representing diverse international cuisines that reflect the borough's multicultural dining landscape. The violations occurred across different neighborhoods, from the busy commercial corridor of Northern Boulevard to the residential area near Grand Central Parkway, indicating that food safety challenges are not concentrated in any single Queens district.

The average score of 19.7 points places these establishments near the middle of the Grade B range, approximately 6-7 points away from achieving Grade A status (0-13 points).

What This Means for Diners

NYC's letter grading system provides consumers with immediate insight into restaurant inspection results. Grade B indicates that while violations were documented, they did not create conditions requiring immediate closure or posing acute public health threats. However, these violations must be corrected, and restaurants typically face follow-up inspections to verify compliance.

Diners can access complete inspection histories for any NYC restaurant through the city's online database or by visiting facility pages on NYCRestaurantInspections.com. Each restaurant's page displays current grades, violation details, inspection dates, and historical performance, allowing consumers to make informed dining decisions.

The violations documented on March 12—particularly those involving food contact surfaces and HACCP compliance—relate to fundamental food safety principles. Improper food contact surfaces can harbor bacteria even after cleaning, while HACCP failures may allow contaminated food to reach consumers. Both violation types require operational changes and staff retraining to correct.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene scores restaurants based on points assigned during unannounced inspections. Grade A represents 0-13 points, indicating the establishment met food safety standards with minimal violations. Grade B (14-27 points) reflects violations that need correction but do not pose immediate danger. Grade C (28 or more points) indicates substantial violations requiring prompt remediation.

Inspectors assign points based on violation severity under NYC Health Code Article 81. Critical violations—such as those involving temperature control, cross-contamination, or vermin—carry higher point values than general violations related to facility maintenance or documentation. The three Queens restaurants inspected March 12 accumulated points primarily from critical food handling and surface sanitation violations.

Restaurants receive grades after initial inspections and can request re-inspections to improve their scores. Some establishments display "Grade Pending" placards when awaiting re-inspection results or during the administrative review period.

New York City conducts approximately 25,000 restaurant inspections annually, making the grading system one of the nation's most comprehensive public health disclosure programs. Studies have shown that letter grading correlates with improved food safety practices and helps consumers identify establishments with strong sanitation records.

Consumers seeking current inspection information can visit the NYC Health Department website or check individual facility pages for detailed violation histories, scores, and grade progression over time.